Why use a UKAS-accredited laboratory for your water testing?
If you’ve visited the Dynamika website before, you might have noticed that we offer ‘UKAS-accredited’ water analysis via independent third-party laboratories.
But what does ‘UKAS-accredited’ actually mean? And why should you pick a UKAS-accredited laboratory over other water testing providers?
To explain why, we first need to explain the difference between certification and accreditation…
Accreditation vs Certification
From electrical appliances and construction materials, to medicines and food products, or even the water we consume and use every day; pretty much any product, material or substance is expected to meet defined UK and/or international standards for quality and/or safety before it can be sold or used.
How do you confirm a product’s compliance with regulations? By getting it tested, arranging an inspection, or both.
For water testing, you’ll typically send off a sample to a laboratory, where testing will be carried out across a range of parameters to check whether it meets the standards.
These parameters might include:
- The pH balance of the water sample
- The colour of the water sample
- The temperature of the water
- The concentrations of chemicals in the water (such as nitrates and calcium)
- The concentrations of microbes in the water (such as E.coli bacteria)
If the parameters of the water sample are within the acceptable limits, the lab’s test report issued to you at the end of testing is essentially a certificate that your water meets the standards for those particular parameters.
But how do you confirm the lab’s test results are accurate – and your certificate is valid?
That’s where accreditation comes in.
Accreditation assesses the competence and impartiality of organisations that provide testing and certification. In other words, if certification bodies certify product manufacturers and suppliers, accreditation bodies essentially ‘certify’ the certification bodies.
What is UKAS?
UKAS stands for the United Kingdom Accreditation Service. It’s the only national accreditation body in the UK, as recognised by the UK government.
UKAS performs laboratory accreditation to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard, which usually involves examining:
- the suitability, calibration and maintenance of testing equipment
- the competence, training and qualifications of laboratory staff
- the quality and sterility of the testing environment and facilities
- appropriate collection, handling and transportation of samples
- the suitability and quality of testing methods and procedures
- recording and accuracy of test results
Why use a UKAS-accredited laboratory?
When it comes to testing water quality, a UKAS-accredited laboratory gives you the confidence that your test results will be accurate; but it’s more than that.
The accuracy of water quality testing – particularly drinking water – can literally be a matter of life and death. Here at the Dynamika blog, we’ve covered the health risks of legionella-infected water across several different articles.
UKAS-accredited testing can help you ensure water safety and minimise the risks of accidentally exposing customers or staff to unsafe water. It can also protect you in a courtroom scenario by demonstrating that you performed your due diligence.
And while UKAS-accredited testing may sometimes be more expensive, you’ll likely save costs versus trying to carry out testing yourself (especially if your own test results are inaccurate and/or you fail to carry out the testing correctly).
Plus, with the aforementioned ISO/IEC 17025 standard, test results and certificates issued by accredited laboratories can be accepted in multiple countries; handy if you’re exporting water products internationally.
Worried about water quality? Dynamika offers fast, reliable water analysis via independent UKAS-accredited laboratories. To arrange a test today, call our team on 03333 22 0800 or get in touch online to find out more.